Resuscitation device



y 1963 J. F. DOLD 3,090,380

RESUSCITATION DEVICE Filed April 13, 1961 INVENTOR. J. FRED DOLD BLAIR AND BUCKLES ATTORNEYS.

3,90,380 Patented May 21, 193

3,090,380 RESUSCITATION DEVICE John F. Dold, Rye, N.Y.

Filed Apr. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 102,786 Claims. (Cl. 128-29) This invention relates to resuscitation apparatus and more particularly to such apparatus having an improved compact and inexpensive valve assembly.

There are many types of resuscitators in use, ranging from very expensive and complicated pulmotor apparatus to a variety of smaller hand operated units. These prior art resuscitator devices generally employ complex valve arrangements and therefore are expensive to manufacture. Many of the parts of these valves must be made within close tolerances to function properly.

Another disadvantage of prior art resuscitators is that due to the complexity and precision of the valve assemblies they are prone to malfunction when the device has been subject to rough treatment. Because of the valve arrangements in these devices they are also easily jammed by food particles, sand, sea weed or other foreign material, either from a patients month during treatment or merely from exposure to such material. Still another disadvantage of many of the prior art devices is that the resuscitator must be removed from the patients month to allow normal breathing by the revived person.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a resuscitator that is light in weight and easily portable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a resuscitator of the above character which is simple to operate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a resuscitator of the above character which is inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valve for a resuscitator of the above character which has few moving parts, and which is rugged and dependable in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve assembly for a resuscitator which may be easily cleaned.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valve for a resuscitator of the above character which reduces the probability of jamming either from rough treatment or from foreign matter which may get into the valve.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts to be exemplified in the construction as hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects in the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a resuscitator of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the valve casing taken along lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the valve assembly of FIGURE 1 taken along lines 33 of FIG- URE 2, and illustrating the valve assembly during expiration;

FIGURE 4 is the same view'as FIGURE 3 illustrating the valve assembly during inspiration.

The resuscitator of my invention generally comprises a mask connected with valve assembly 12 through a short conduit or tube 14. The valve assembly itself will be described in more detail hereinafter. The valve assembly is connected at its other end to a pump 16 through a conduit or tube 18 for supplying air or gas to the patient. Conduit 18 is flexible but not expandable.

While conduits between the pump, valve assembly and mask have been shown it should be understood that the conduits are illustrative only. For example, the valve assembly 12 may be incorporated with the mask 10.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the pump 16 may be in the form of a collapsible ball which is squeezed to force air through the tubes and valve assembly and into the patients mouth via the mask or mouthpiece 10. It should be understood that the invention is by no means limited to this type of air or gas source and the invention may be practiced with a number of devices for supplying air or gas under pressure through the resuscitator. For example, air pump 16 may be replaced by a small tank of air or oxygen under pressure which may be operated to provide air or gas to the patient at a rate approximating that of normal breathing.

The valve assembly of the invention is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and utilizes a spring pressed one-way or check valve 33 in combination with an inflatable member 30 for opening and closing the air exhaust ports. The one-way valve is supported by the inflatable member 30 and permits only the exit of air from the inflatable member after it has filled casing 24.

The invention will now be described in more detail. Referring to FIGURE 1, it will 'be seen that the mask 10 is to be placed over the patients mouth and may include a mouth spreader '(not shown) to assure passage of the air or gas into the patients lungs. In application it is preferable that the mask should cover also the patients nose. With the mask in position on the patients face,

the air pump 16 is squeezed intermittently at a rate approximating that of normal breathing. The air pump 16 has a one-way valve 22 which permits the entrance of air in the ball or pump but does not permit the exit of air therefrom. Valve 22 may also be provided with an air filter or a connection (not shown) for administering anesthesia or other gas to the patient through pump 16. The valve assembly 12 controls inspiration and expiration at a rate dependant upon the rate of operation of the ball'16.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4 it will be seen that the valve assembly comprises a casing 24 which may be made of any suitable material such as rubber or plastic. The casing is generally spherical in shape and has an air connection 26 communicating with tube 14. Tube 14 may be secured to connection 26 in any practical, gas tight manner. Inside the casing 24 a thin walled inflatable and expansible member 30 which is made of rubber or a like material is secured at one end to a removable connector 28 preferably having a flanged end portion 31. Expansible member 30 may be secured in any gas tight manner to the inside of the flange of connector 28. Connection 28 is in turn secured to the tube 18 for connecting expansible member 30 to the pump 16. Thus the expansible member 30 and the connector 28 may be removed from the casing 24 through opening 29 with a slight de formation of the casing in the area 2411 of the casing. The member 30 and flanged connector 28 may also be reinserted into the casing in a similar manner. Ease of removal and reinsertion of the expansible member 30 enables foreign matter such as sand, seaweed and the like to be quickly cleaned from inside casing 24.

It is not necessary to have an air tight seal between the outside of connector 28 and opening 29 of casing 24. As will be seen more clearly hereinafter, the expansion of member 30 seals off this portion of casing 24 and prevents pansible member 30 may be sealed. The whole valve assembly is joined to the member 30 so. that flanged end 34 of the valve body will communicate with connector 26 when the expansible member 38 is inflated.

The valve body 32 is provided with a valve plate 38 which is urged against valve seat 40 by a spring 42. Spring 42 is retained at the upper end of the valve body by a shoulder 44. The area of plate 38 and the tension of spring 42 are such that the plate will be unseated with only slightly more air pressure than is needed to fully inflate member 30. It should also be understood that while a spring loaded valve is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, other suitable types of valves may be used to release air or gas from member 30*, as long as the valve remains closed until the member 30 is fully inflated and fills the inside of casing 24.

Around opening 29 casing 24 is provided with a number of exhaust ports 46 for the expiration of air. These exhaust or expiration ports are located so that they are covered and sealed by inflatable member 30 when the member 30' is fully inflated by air or gas under pressure from pump 16 or some other source. Thus, ports 46 will be sealed oif by the member 30 whenever air pressure in member 30* has opened valve 33 during inspiration and open when pressure in member 30 is reduced for expiration.

The operation of the resuscitator will now be described in more detail.

After the mask has been placed on the patients face the air pump 16 is operated to force air through conduit 18 and into inflatable member 30. Member 30 is easily inflated under a small change of pressure and expands outwardly as shown in FIGURE 4 to carry valve body 32 into communication with connection 26. Valve spring 42 keeps valve plate 38 in a closed position until the inflatable member 30 fills the inside of casing 24. As the member 30 is inflated the valve body 32 positions itself around the opening 26, supported by the now inflated member 30'.

With the valve body 32 in position and the inflatable member now filling the inside of the casing :24 a further increase in pressure opens valve plate 38 against spring 42, permitting air to flow through the valve body 32, through connection 26 tube 14 and to the patient via the mask 10. With member 30 being held by air pressure against the inside of valve casing 24 the exhaust ports 46 are closed as shown in FIGURE 4.

As pointed out above the flange 31 of connector 28 may be removably inserted into the casing 24. Inflation of expansible member 30 not only seals oif the exhaust ports 46 but also seals oflf the flanged connector 28, preventing any air leakage between the connector 28 and the casing 24.

As pressure is released on pump 16 expiration from the patient forces air back through conduit 14, spring 42, closing valve plate 38 and member 30 is collapsed. The collapse of member 30 is also aided by a decrease in air pressure in member 30 as the pump 16 refills with air. With the collapse of member 30 the exhaust ports 46 are opened and the expired air is forced out through these ports. Some of the air contained in member 30 is easily drawn back into the air pump 16 during the expiration cycle, since the force on pump 16 is now released. During the next inspiration cycle member 30 again is expanded to close exhaust ports 46 and position valve body 32 to pass another charge of air or gas into the patients lungs.

The valve assembly of my invention is particularly useful at beaches and other places where there is likelihood of foreign matter which may get into the valve assembly, such as from the patients mouth during resuscitation. As can be seen in FIGURE 3 expansible member 30 moves valve body 32 away from the area of connector 26 as it collapses upon expiration. Thus, any sand, seaweed, food particles or the like that enter through 4 opening 26 will lodge around the inside of casing 24 and will not materially affect the operation of the valve assembly since the inflatable member is made of thin elastic material which envelops and covers any such foreign matter lodged on the inside of casing 24.

The valve assembly may be cleaned by removal of the expansi-ble member 30 and valve 33. This is easily accomplished by distortion of the casing 24 around opening 29 and removal of the flanged connector 28. The inside of casing 24- can then be easily cleaned, as well as the expansible member 30.

Although a deformable casing 124 has been shown and described it should be understood that the casing may also be made of fairly rigid material within the scope of the invention. Such a casing may be made in two sections which are removably joined to provide for cleaning of the inside of the casing.

The resuscitator of my invention employing this compound valve assembly is extremely inexpensive to manufacture and is durable in use. The valve casing may be made of rubber or of inexpensive plastic material, further reducing the cost of manufacture, and the number of moving parts is minimized to reduce wear and the possibility of malfunction.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efl'iciently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A resuscitator, comprising in combination, gas supply means, a substantially spherical casing, mask means for transmitting a gas to a patients respiratory system, a connector between said mask means and said casing, means forming an exhaust port in said casing removed from the area of said connector, a thin walled inflatable balloon-like member inside said casing, and a one-Way valve positioned in the wall of said balloon-like member, said balloon-like member being connected to said gas supply means, said one-way valve being positioned in said balloon-like member :for communication with said mask means when said balloon-like member is inflated to fill said casing, whereby inflation of said balloon-like member from said gas supply means fills said casing, closing said exhaust port and positions said one-way valve for communication with said mask means and a further increase in gas pressure within said balloon-like member opens said one-way valve to pass a gas to said mask means, and upon reduction of pressure therein said balloon-like member collapses, Withdrawing said oneway valve from communication with the connection to said mask means and opening said exhaust port.

2. A resuscitator as defined in claim 1 wherein said one-way valve means is provided with a closure spring adapted to permit opening of said valve means only l when said expansible balloon-like member is inflated to substantially fill said casing.

3. A resuscitator, comprising in combination, mask means adapted to transmit a gas to a patients respiratory system, a chambered casing having compoundly curved walls, said casing having means forming a communicating connector with said mask means and an exhaust port removed therefrom, a thin-walled, inflatable balloon-like member inside said casing, gas supply means passing through said casing and connected to said balloon-like member, a valve supported in the wall of said balloon"- like member permitting release of a gas from said balloonlike member at a pressure greater than that required to inflate said balloon-like member to fill said casing, said valve being positioned in said balloon-like member for juxtaposition with said mask means connector when said balloon-like member is inflated whereby pressure in said balloon-like member initially inflates said balloon-like member to fill the inside of said casing, positioning said valve for communication with said mask means and closing said exhaust port, a further increase in gas pressure opening said valve and conveying gas from said gas supply means to said mask means and upon a decrease in pressure for the patients exhalation, the balloon-like member partially collapses, retracting said valve from communication with said mask means and opening said exhaust port.

4. A resuscitator as defined in claim 3 wherein said gas supply means includes a flanged connector adjacent said balloon like member, said casing is made of a resilient plastic material and has means forming an opening for engaging the flange of said flanged connector and permitting passage of the flange therethrough when said casing is resiliently deformed about said opening.

5. A resuscitator valve assembly comprising, in combination, a compoundly curved casing forming a chamber therein, means forming an opening in said casing for connection to a patient, means forming an exhaust port in said casing at a point removed from said opening, a thin-Walled inflatable balloon-like member in said casing connectable to a source of gas outside said casing, and a normally closed one-Way valve supported in the Wall of said balloon-like member and positioned to communicate with said opening when said balloon-like member is inflated, said valve opening only at a pressure greater than that required to inflate said balloon-like member to substantially fill said casing chamber whereby said valve is movable to and from said opening by pressure changes in said balloon-like member to release gas therethrough only when positioned at said opening by inflation of said balloon-like member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,193 Emerson Aug. 7, 1956 2,382,427 Langdon Aug. 14, 1945 2,746,477 Krause et a1 May 22, 1956 3,046,973 Lea July 31, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 833,093 Great Britain Apr. 21, 1960 1,204,930 France Aug. 10, 1959 1,207,372 France Aug. 31, 1959 1,095,470 Germany Dec. 22, 1960 

5. A RESUSCITATOR VALVE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A COMPOUNDLY CURVED CASING FORMING A CHAMBER THEREIN, MEANS FORMING AN OPENING IN SAID CASING FOR CONNECTION TO A PATIENT, MEANS FORMING AN EXHAUST PORT IN SAID CASING AT A POINT REMOVED FROM SAID OPENING, A THIN-WALLED INFLATABLE BALLOON-LIKE MEMBER IN SAID CASING CONNECTABLE TO A SOURCE OF GAS OUTSIDE SAID CASING, AND A NORMALLY CLOSED ONE-WAY VALVE SUPPORTED IN THE WALL OF SAID BALLOON-LIKE MEMBER AND POSITIONED TO COMMUNICATE WITH SAID OPENING WHEN SAID BALLOON-LIKE MEMBER IS INFLATED, SAID VALVE OPENING ONLY AT A PRESSURE GREATER THAN THAT REQUIRED TO INFLATE SAID BALLOON-LIKE MEMBER TO SUBSTANTIALLY FILL SAID CASING CHAMBER WHEREBY SAID VALVE IS MOVABLE TO AND FROM SAID OPENING BY PRESSURE CHANGES IN SAID BALLOON-LIKE MEMBER TO RELEASE GAS THERETHROUGH ONLY WHEN POSITIONED AT SAID OPENING BY INFLATION OF SAID BALLOON-LIKE MEMBER. 